I know I made a mistake about the name of the rich guy's house. Please ignore it. He won't be mentioned anymore in this story. I know about editing and stuff, but I have to alternate between two computers, so it is much easier this way. Thank you. As promised, the mysterious secret Marie-Claire has been hiding is finally told! Read on!

Marie-Claire ran across the street, James high-tailing after her like a fox. She was aware he was behind her. But Marie really didn't care about that. All she wanted was to go to the inn and hide.

James followed her all the way up the stairs to the room they were all staying in. he was trying to get her to speak to him, but she was simply refusing to turn back and talk to him. Finally, they reached the room.

"What was THAT!" James exploded. He shut the door behind him for privacy and looked back at her.

"I…I just had a dream last night, that's all." Marie-Claire said nervously.

"Had a dream last night?" James was growing angrier and angrier, "What does that have to do with anything? You just said right in front of everyone that Lord Sampson was planning to attack tomorrow morning. How could you possibly have known that? How do you know these things!"

Marie-Claire had turned her back to him by now.

"Marie! Look at me!" James shouted, "How did you know that!"

She crossed her arms and turned around, dropping them at her sides.

"You want to know how?" She said, her voice shaky, "I'm psychic, that's how!"

James rolled his eyes, "Oh, right. And I can fly."

"I'm serious!" Marie exclaimed, "After I turned 4, I started having dreams. Strange dreams, about people I knew, and people I didn't know. I finally realized what had happened when I had a dream that my neighbor would die after getting run over by a coach. Then, the next day, I went outside and saw it happen! What else could it be?"

James had stood there the whole time, eyes wide open, and hardly able to process any of the information he was hearing.

"Marie, are you sure?" James asked, sounding serious, "That is the reason?"

Marie-Claire nodded her head quickly, "Yes."

James had found this all hard to believe, but now it started to make sense. The waking up in the middle of the night, her knowing things know one had ever told her, everything. It had to be true.

"This is amazing," James said, star-struck, "Marie-Claire, do you realize what you could do with this? You could help the Americans win the war! Why, all we'd have to do is bring you along, you'd have a dream and find out where the British are going to attack and-"

"NO!" Marie-Claire covered her ears and screamed.

James stepped back, feeling he might have offended her. Then again, she was always acting strange like this.

Marie, breathing heavily, looked back up at James, and slowly stood up.

"I can't do that, James," Marie said, eyes filling with tears, "Don't you see? They'll-"

"They? Who's they?" James interrupted.

"The ones who want to kill me." Marie whispered.

James' face suddenly showed an expression of fear, "Who wants to kill you?"

Marie threw her arms in the air, tears streaming down her flustered cheeks, "The British! The Americans! The Hessians! EVERYONE! They all want to kill me! That's why I'm always on the run. That's why I was floating on that barrel. And that is why I'm here this very second, and not back home having a normal life!"

James was shocked, "You mean…you've helped them before? All of them?"

Marie-Claire nodded, wiping away her tears, "I was with my father, who was in the American fleet. I was helping them pinpoint where the British were. Then, when the British captured me, they realized that I was, shall I say, "gifted." They used me to help them. During a battle, I escaped. And as if that wasn't it, the Hessians, who had also heard about me, captured me. They kept me in a stinking old tent, and tortured me on occasion when I refused to help them. After that, they threw me into the ocean so I would drown, but I found an old barrel and clung to it, eventually passing out. Then your boat came and brought me aboard."

James was speechless. Had this really happened to her?

"There you have it, Mr. Hiller. My life story." Marie-Claire said simply, sinking to the floor.

He stood there, watching her cry. James didn't know exactly what to do or say, so he helped Marie-Claire to her feet.

"Listen, I'm really sorry," James whispered, "I've been an idiot. I should have believed you the first time you said it. You didn't have to tell me everything against your will."

Marie's glassy eyes surveyed his serious face.

"You won't tell anyone, will you?" She whispered back.

James shook his head, "No, I won't."

Marie-Claire made a little smile, "Thank you, James."

James smiled back at her. By now she was so close, it was incredible. Her astonishing eyes were staring right into his, and her lips so close he was about to…

"James! Marie-Claire, I-"

The two of them turned around to see Henri standing in the doorway, eyes wide, mouth dropped open in surprise.

"James, were you going to kiss her?" Henri said, astonished.

Marie stepped back right away.

"No, of course not," James snapped, "Why on earth would I do that?"

Henri frowned, "Right. Forget that. Sarah says we must go to sleep now."

Marie-Claire looked at James longingly.

"Oh, my dear friend," She thought desperately, "There is so much I wish to tell you…but I can't. Not just yet."

A phychic girl in the American Revolution? Hmm... Give me your thoughts on this. Say whatever you like. Just don't be too harsh if you find the idea completely ridiculous. Loverly yours, Autumn